Sarajevo is administrative and cultural capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Nested between rugged mountains of Romanija, Bjelašnica and Trebević and split by Miljacka River, Sarajevo is stretched across an area known as Sarajevo Field.

Citizens of the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina voted for the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the referendum that was held between 29 February and 1 March 1992.[2] The referendum question was: "Are you in favor of a sovereign and independent Bosnia-Herzegovina, a state of equal citizens and nations of Muslims, Serbs, Croats and others who live in it?"[3] Independence was strongly favoured by Bosniak andBosnian Croat voters, while Bosnian Serbs (except for those in larger cities)[4] boycotted it[5] or were prevented from participating by Bosnian Serb authorities.[6][7] The total turnout of voters was 63.6% of which 99.7% voted for the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina.[5]

The Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina is celebrated only in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Republika Srpska boycotts this holiday and celebrates its own Independence Day on 9 January.[10]Milorad Dodik, President of Republika Srpska, has claimed that Independence Day "is a holiday of the Bosniak people and we do not dispute it, but it is not a holiday celebrated in the RS".[11]